Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 186: The Other Choice

Instead of heading to her room, Ruelle quickly returned to the carriage and climbed inside.

"Where are your gloves?" Mrs. Belmont asked when she noticed Ruelle’s bare hands.

"I couldn’t find them," Ruelle lied. "I will need to buy a new pair."

She had barely finished wrapping the loose ends of her scarf around her hands when a pair of gloves was suddenly placed in front of her. She looked at her stepmother.

"I don’t need you falling sick while under our care," Mrs. Belmont said before placing the gloves firmly on her lap.

Ruelle stared at them for a moment before she wore them. The carriage began to move, the wheels grinding against the snow-covered road. She turned her head to the window, watching the world blur past.

She knew her father despised Lucian, but to go this far... Her fingers pressed against each other. So much for wanting to be a family. Not that she had expected anything from her father anymore, but somehow this still felt lower than she had imagined him capable of.

The society they lived in despised and looked down at the corrupted vampires in the same way as they did at the existence of a witch. In a way, both Lucian and she had something in common.

Was Minister Sylvan threatened by Lucian’s presence in the courthouse? Why else would he try to stir the corruption in Lucian’s heart again?

Ruelle tried to remember what she knew of corruption. It often came after something sudden. Trauma, grief or a violent shift. But no one knew about resumed corruption. She didn’t want to lose Lucian. He had held it back for years. He would do it again...

"Can we pay a visit to the local library later? There is a book I wanted to borrow," Ruelle said suddenly.

Mrs. Belmont turned to her with a look of surprise. Her lips pursed and she then said, "If you want a book, I will have one of the guards fetch it."

The rest of their journey passed in silence. When the carriage finally stopped before the grand gates of the Valentin mansion, a servant hurried forward to open the door.

Cold air brushed Ruelle’s face when she stepped down. Several carriages were already lined outside.

"Ruelle!" Lady Maxine’s voice rang through the front hall. The vampiress crossed the distance quickly and pulled Ruelle into an embrace, pressing kisses to both her cheeks. She said, "I am so glad you came. I heard you were unwell and was planning to visit you myself. Are you feeling better?"

"I am. Forgive the confusion," Ruelle replied, offering a small smile.

Lady Maxine waved a hand, replying, "It is nothing at all. I am delighted to have you here."

When the vampiress’s eyes fell on the other two women, Ruelle introduced, "This is my friend, Hailey Elliot."

Hailey bowed quickly.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Elliot," Lady Maxine said warmly, offering her hand. "Your father speaks of you."

Hailey smiled as she shook it, slightly taken aback by the vampiress’ beauty, "Thank you for giving him work when he needed it. He speaks much better of this place than his last employer. The earl’s nephew was awful."

Belmont nudged her at once and

"Ruelle’s friends are welcome here. Considering her

to lose

openly of her family. Did that mean the woman had seen it herself... they had shared the room once, but she hadn’t expected for the vampiress to see what had been done to

Maxine said, placing a hand lightly against Ruelle’s

end of the hall opened

Through the glass she could see white flakes drifting from the grey sky, while inside the air smelled faintly

tables. They were mostly vampiresses and a few human women. And among them, Ruelle caught sight of Angelina. The young vampiress gave a

like to introduce my dear cousin

the curious eyes

the vampiresses said. "Most of us have been waiting

here," another offered, pulling out an empty

her dress beneath her. Some of them seemed eager to know more about her, while there

women, her white hair pinned neatly and her skin untouched by age, turned to Mrs. Belmont and said, "You must be feeling fortunate to gain

gallows and the other future son-in-law had almost burned her and her husband in the house. Instead of feeling out of

not every day you find such a

up with her stepmother’s, as if sharing a quiet look between each

introducing a young woman, a human, who sat across from her. She looked close to

good to meet you, Miss Ruelle," Lia

pleasure is mine,"

her head felt full of names, where some had already fallen out

to one of the tables. It was Lady Maxine’s

me," one of the older vampiresses called, stretching her hand

at her and then murmured,

quiet. Even the spoons stopped moving and one clattered loudly. Lady Maxine gave a nervous smile and the

carefully. She then turned to the older woman, "Forgive her, Lady Daisy. She has picked up bad habits from spending time with her

to guess which uncle." She leaned toward Olivia

mouth and lifted her into her arms. "I

Ruelle noticed a plate being

morning," it

accepted one. "Thank

the pieces of chocolate melt on her tongue with the warm taste of butter and flour. She praised, "This is good. You must share the

"I would be

the conversation at the table shifted to soirees, servants and whose maid had ruined what gown, Ruelle had slowly stopped listening. After a while, she quietly slipped away from the table, letting the noise of the women fade behind her. At the edge of the glass-covered garden, she caught sight of Angelina

must want to go home," Ruelle said as she

touching her lips. "Can you tell?" Her gaze settled on Ruelle again. "And you?

suppose." The truth was, she didn’t know what to do at gatherings like these. Still, it was